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August 3, 2011

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Furious Newcastle lets Barton go for free

NEWCASTLE will allow Joey Barton to leave on a free transfer following the midfielder's public criticism of the Premier League club.

The infamously combative Barton was runner-up in the vote for Newcastle fans' player of the year award, but publicly criticized the decision to sell key players including captain and top scorer Kevin Nolan.

Barton repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter and refused to sign a new contract, prompting the club to announce on Monday that it was parting with one of the fiercest competitors in the Premier League.

"If I wanted to leave, I'd just come out and say "I want to leave" Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again," he wrote on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Barton had said he would make an announcement regarding his future on Twitter, but the club pre-empted his news with a statement on its website.

Barton responded on Twitter: "Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata."

Barton cost Newcastle 5.8 million pounds (US$49.4 million) in June 2007 and had one year left on his Newcastle contract. Since starting at Manchester City, Barton's career has been checkered with disciplinary problems on and off the pitch.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he wants to obtain a work permit for Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi. The 18-year-old Miyaichi was signed in January but spent the rest of last season on loan at Dutch club Feynoord as he didn't have official clearance to play for the London club.

Miyaichi was not allowed to play in the Emirates Cup last weekend as it was a FIFA-sanctioned tournament. Wenger said that "my plan is to get a work permit for him and put him on the pitch for Arsenal Football Club."



 

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